"Your Name" Animation Scenes Revealed – Travel North Japan Easily with a JR Pass!

Photos & Text / Provided by Cola Tourism

The 2016 animated film "Your Name," written and directed by Japanese filmmaker Makoto Shinkai, was a huge hit in Japan and Taiwan. Many travelers visit Japan specifically for an "anime pilgrimage." Besides the Tokyo scenes, "Fukui Prefecture’s Ichinoseki City" also features many movie locations. Fly in or out of Kansai or Nagoya Airport and head to Ichinoseki City for an anime-themed pilgrimage!

The station scene where Taki departs from Nagoya to find Mitsuha is "Ichinoseki Station." In addition, there are many spots around Ichinoseki Station where you can explore the world of "Your Name," such as the shrine and library that Taki passes on his way to find Mitsuha.

▲ Ichinoseki Station (Image credit: Provided by JR Central Japan Railway Company)

▲ Ichinoseki City Library (Image credit: Provided by JR Central Japan Railway Company)

Want to cover all the "Your Name" Ichinoseki-related spots in one go, or also visit Takayama and Shirakawa-go? We highly recommend using the "Takayama & Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass" launched by JR Central. Within 5 days, you can take unlimited rides on JR lines and buses between Kansai Airport, Osaka, Kanazawa, Toyama, Takayama, and Nagoya — including the "Wide View Hida" limited express featured in the movie — as well as buses to Shirakawa-go!

▲ Coverage area of the Takayama & Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass.

Besides Ichinoseki City, we also recommend taking a highway bus to Kanazawa, known as the "Little Kyoto of Hokuriku"!

Kanazawa’s "Higashi Chaya District" preserves the streetscape of the Edo period. Originally teahouses where guests enjoyed sweets and tea, during the Edo era they evolved into venues for enjoying geisha performances. Kanazawa has maintained this traditional scenery, which is also an important cultural asset of Japan.

In Kanazawa, you can also try various gold leaf desserts. The gold leaf here isn’t just sprinkled on — it’s real sheets of gold foil applied to ice cream, making for a truly luxurious treat. There’s also a line of gold leaf products, including honey cake, sake, and face masks — every item is full of “gold” joy!

▲ Higashi Chaya District (Image credit: Provided by Japan Tourism Agency)

The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa is also an absolute must-visit. Even before completion, it won the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Architecture Biennale. The perfectly round main building was designed by the architect without a main entrance so people could view the museum from all angles. Admission to the museum is free, encouraging frequent visits to experience its design and surroundings. One special exhibition room features Argentine artist Leandro Erlich’s work "The Swimming Pool." By filling a room with water through a skylight and adding pool rails, photos taken from above while posing in extreme ways are tons of fun with family or friends.

▲ 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa (Image credit: Provided by Japan Tourism Agency)

How to use the "Takayama & Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass"?
% Benefit 1: Ride the Limited Express and Rapid Trains on the JR Tokaido Main Line (between Maibara and Nagoya), as well as the Hokuriku Shinkansen (between Kanazawa and Toyama) as many times as you like.
% Benefit 2: Travel to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Shirakawa-go (that dreamy fairytale gassho village!) and other spots in Gifu Prefecture as many times as you want.
% Benefit 3: Ride the Limited Express, Rapid, and Local Trains on the JR Hokuriku Main Line (free seating only) as many times as you like.
% Benefit 4: Ride the "Wide View Hida" Limited Express (standard seating only — reserved seats not included).
% Benefit 5: Visit popular destinations such as Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa 21st Century Museum, Kanazawa Kenrokuen Garden, Kaga Onsen, Nagoya Castle, Osaka, and Kyoto.

% Benefit 6: The above benefits, usage rules, and coverage areas are subject to the latest information published by JR Central Japan Railway Company.

This pass is especially useful for those traveling to Shirakawa-go and Ichinoseki, but please note that it’s only available for purchase in Taiwan — it’s not sold in Japan, so buy it in advance!

Where to buy the Takayama & Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass % Buy Now /strong>